Multi-Component Drilling Fluid Additive, and Drilling Fluid System Incorporating the Additive

ABSTRACT

Multi-component additive for incorporation into a drilling fluid, and a drilling fluid system comprising said multi-component additive. The additive preferably comprises three primary components: (1) a rate of penetration enhancer, namely one of a number of synthetic (non-toxic) ester-based or olefin-based oils as a carrier for other additives, such as surfactants; (2) a lubricant, namely one or more of a number of chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins, and plant based fatty acids; and (3) a clay inhibitor/stabilizer, such as a polyglycol. Preferably, the three components are pre-mixed in a single container, for ease in use in adding to a drilling fluid system. The additive may be incorporated into a drilling fluid system at a shore based facility, and the “liquid mud” transported to a drilling rig; or the additive may be brought to the drilling rig and incorporated into a drilling fluid system on site.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This regular patent application claims priority to provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/562,472, filed Apr. 15, 2004.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to drilling fluids commonly used in the drillingof earthen boreholes, especially for the exploration for and productionof oil and gas. More particularly, this invention relates to a drillingfluid system which possesses desirable attributes regarding rate ofpenetration enhancement, lubrication, and clay inhibition, and furtherrelates to a multi-component additive for drilling fluids, preferablypre-blended into a “single container” additive for ease and efficiencyin use, which specifically addresses rate of penetration, lubrication,and clay inhibition properties of the overall drilling fluid system.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present invention comprises a particular composition of water baseddrilling fluid (for fresh or salt water based systems) for use in thedrilling of subterranean boreholes, commonly referred to as “wells.” Theinvention further comprises an additive for drilling fluids whichcomprises three primary components, directed toward improving theefficiency of the overall system.

The use of liquid drilling fluids, commonly known as “muds,” is wellknown in the art. In particular, this invention is directed towarddrilling fluid systems used in the notary drilling of wells, where adrill string is rotated, in turn rotating and applying weight to a drillbit, which drills through the downhole formation. Mud is pumped downholethrough the drill string, through the drill bit, and circulated up thedrill string/borehole annulus back to the surface.

Drilling fluids serve several fundamental functions: control of downholeformation pressures; removal of cuttings generated by the drill bit fromthe borehole; and cooling and lubricating of the drill bit. In additionto these fundamental functions of drilling fluids, drilling fluidspreferably possess several desirable characteristics which can greatlyenhance the efficiency of the drilling operation. Preferably, thedrilling fluid exhibits rate of penetration enhancement characteristics,by having physical properties which “wet” the drill string and keep thecutting surfaces of the drill bit (whether of the roller cone or otherconfiguration) clean. The “wetting” attribute is at least in part afunction of the surface tension of the fluid. The drilling fluid alsopreferably has a high degree of lubricity, to minimize friction betweenthe drill string and the wall of the borehole, an extremely valuableresult being the minimizing of differential sticking (a situation inwhich the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid column issufficiently higher than the formation pressure, that the drill stringis forced against the wall of the borehole and stuck). Yet anotherdesirable characteristic is inhibition (that is, prevention fromswelling) of formation solids (primarily clays and shales), whichfurther reduces incidents of drill string sticking, undergauge holes,etc. Inhibition of clay swelling, in general, results from preventingthe clays from adsorbing water.

The prior art has addressed, to some degree, these characteristics ofdrilling fluids in a piece meal fashion, with various products havingbeen developed over the years which are directed toward (for example)one of the three desirable attributes. It can be readily appreciatedthat overall efficiency of the drilling fluid system is best achieved byincorporating all three of these attributes, into the system.

The present invention is a aqueous based drilling fluid system whichcomprises (in addition to the water phase, weighting material if any,and common components such as gelling materials) three primary additivecomponents, of particular compositions and in preferred volumetricratios of the three primary additive components one-to-the-other andwithin the overall drilling fluid system, which perform each of thesedesired functions (rate of penetration enhancement, lubrication, andclay inhibition). In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the inventioncomprises a drilling fluid additive in which the three primarycomponents are “pre-blended” in a recommended ratio, one to the other,with the pre-blended additive thereafter added to a drilling fluidsystem to achieve a desired concentration of additive within the overalldrilling fluid system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an aqueous base drilling fluidcomprising three additives to address different desirable attributes ofthe drilling fluid. In addition, the invention comprises amulti-component drilling fluid additive, wherein the additive ispreferably pre-blended into a “single container” additive package, forease and efficiency in incorporating the additive into a drilling fluidsystem, whether done at a mixing facility and the resulting pre-mixedmud brought to the drilling rig, or whether the additive is brought tothe drilling rig and incorporated into the drilling fluid system onsite.

The additive of the present invention preferably comprises three primarycomponents, for incorporation into a drilling fluid system: (1) a rateof penetration enhancer; (2) a lubricant; and (3) a clayinhibitor/stabilizer. The rate of penetration enhancer component maycomprise one of a number of synthetic (non-toxic) ester-based orolefin-based oils as a carrier for other additives, such as surfactants.The lubricant may comprise one or more of a number of chlorinated waxes,chlorinated olefins, and plant based fatty acids. The clayinhibitor/stabilizer may comprise a polyglycol of many types, known inthe drilling fluid art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention disclosed herein is an aqueous base drilling fluid systemcomprising multiple additives to enhance the functionality of thesystem, and a multi-component drilling fluid additive, along with aresulting drilling fluid system and method of using same in the drillingof wells, whether for oil and gas exploration and production or anyother purpose. Those skilled in the relevant art will be familiar withthe general setting within which drilling fluids (commonly called“muds”) are used in the rotary drilling art.

The drilling fluid system of the present invention comprises at leasttwo fundamental components of an aqueous or water based drilling fluid.Such fundamental and typical components of water based drilling fluidscomprise (1) the water fraction; (2) a weighting agent such as barite,if the mud is used in an over-pressured environment; and (3) typically agelling agent such as bentonite or other similar clay.

In addition to such fundamental components, and without exclusion ofother components which may be added as a matter of course to water baseddrilling fluids, the present drilling fluid system comprises thefollowing components (in preferred compositions and concentrationswithin the drilling fluid, as described in more detail hereafter):

1) a rate of penetration enhancer,

2) a lubricant; and

3) a clay inhibitor/stabilizer.

While different ways of handling the additive and incorporating it intothe drilling fluid are possible, a preferred manner is to combine thethree components into a blended “single container” additive, andthereafter add the blended additive to a drilling fluid system. Thismanner of handling very much eases the task of incorporating theadditive into the drilling fluid system, automatically maintains theratios of the additives one to the other as desired, and makes it easierto maintain the desired volumetric ratios of the three components withinthe system (that is, the volumetric ratios of the three components ascompared to the overall volume of drilling fluid).

Presently Preferred Embodiment(s) of the Rate of Penetration EnhancerComponent

Generally, the rate of penetration (“ROP”) enhancer component maycomprise one of a number of synthetic, non-toxic, ester-based orolefin-based oils as a carrier for other additives, such as surfactants.More generally, the ROP enhancer component encompasses a plurality ofrate of penetration enhancers comprising one or more surfactants andpolymers, in a synthetic base oil carrier, such as a synthetic basedolefin or ester. Preferably, the ROP enhancer component is non-toxic,contains no aromatics, and passes the static sheen test as prescribed byregulatory authorities. Typically, the component takes the form of aclear, amber colored liquid, with little or no discernable odor.

One suitable rate of penetration enhancer component comprises asynthetic ester-based oil, with or without added surfactants, which oilexhibits the following carbon chain composition analysis:

Carbon Range % of total C14 and under 0.4 C14-C16 2.5 C16-C18 6.8C18-C20 12.4 C20-C22 16.8 C22-C24 18.4 C24-C26 17.5 C26-C28 13.9 C28-C307.2 C30 and up 4.1 Total 100

Further, typical physical properties of a suitable synthetic ester-basedoil, as the rate of penetration enhancer component, are:

Specific gravity 0.81-0.83 Odor Mild to none Flash point >200 F. Pourpoint −5 to 5 F. Solubility in water negligible Appearance Clear, lightcolored liquid

It is understood that various types of olefin-based synthetic oils arealso suitable.

As mentioned above, in addition to the primary part of the ROP enhancercomponent, namely the base oil thereof, the ROP enhancer component mayadditionally be supplemented with and comprise surfactants and polymersof types known in the relevant art, to enhance wetting of the drillstring and bit cleaning, etc. Surfactants as encompassed by the presentinvention may comprise those from the family of polyamide, polyamine orimidazoline derivatives. Preferably, surfactants suitable for use in thepresent invention have an HLB (Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance) number inthe range that describes them as an efficient metal wetter and iseffective in reducing interfacial tension. The HLB number for wettingtype surfactants is generally described as being between 7 and 9 on ascale of 1 to 18. It is to be understood that the actual HLB for thesurfactants suitable for use in preferred embodiments of the rate ofpenetration enhancing component could be outside this range (7 to 9).

One possible, acceptable, and presently commercially available rate ofpenetration enhancer which a preferred embodiment is available fromMulti-Chem, Inc., P.O. Box 728, Abbeville, La., 70511 and is sold underthe trade name AQUA-SPOT-S™.

Presently Preferred Embodiment(s) of the Lubricant Component

Generally, the lubricant may comprise one or more of a number ofchlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins, and plant based fatty acids.While not restricting the scope of the lubricant component to anyparticular composition, one presently preferred composition is thatdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,100 to Nance et al, issue date May 14,1985. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,100 is incorporated byreference herein for purposes of disclosing further detail on thecomposition of at least one presently preferred lubricant composition.

In accordance with the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,100, thelubricant component may comprise a mixture of: (a) a chlorinatedcomponent of chlorinated normal paraffins having 9 to 20 carbon atoms,chlorinated esters of fatty acids, chlorinated waxes, chlorinatedolefins or mixtures thereof; and (b) a sulfurized component ofsulfurized fatty acid, sulfurized esters of fatty acids, sulfurizedpolymerized fatty acids, sulfurized olefins, or mixtures thereof, thechlorinated and sulfurized components being combined in proportions toproduce a lubricating composition containing about 15 to 30 weightpercent chlorine and 2 to 10 weight percent sulfur. For purposes of thisdisclosure, the term “esters of fatty acids” includes the esters derivedfrom glycerol, i.e. the triglycerides of fatty acids. For purposes ofthis disclosure, the term “waxes” includes both slack waxes and refinedwaxes. One possible, acceptable, and presently preferred embodiment ofthe lubricant component of the present invention is commerciallyavailable from Keil Chemical, Dept. L 2566, Columbus, Ohio 43260 (or therelated company Dover Chemical, 3676 Davis Road N.W., Dover, Ohio,44622-0040), and is sold under the trade name of OA-900.

It is to be understood, however, that the lubricant component maycomprise, more generally, chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins, andplant based fatty acids, and the scope of the invention is not limitedto the specific lubricant composition set out above.

Presently Preferred Embodiment(s) of the Clay Inhibitor/StabilizerComponent

Generally, the clay inhibitor/stabilizer component may comprise apolyglycol of many types, well known in the drilling fluid art. Forpurposes of this patent application, the term “clay” is understood toencompass all formations which have a tendency to absorb water andthereby swell, whether they are termed “clays,” “shales,” etc. Inparticular, while not limiting the scope of the invention to anyparticular polyglycol, one acceptable and presently preferred polyglycolis an industrial propylene glycol having substantially the followingproperties:

Test Method Test Result ASTM D1613 Acidity, as Acetic Acid, wt. % 0.0003Visual Appearance Clear, viscous liquid G.C. Assay, wt. % 99.80 USP XXIChlorides, ppm <0.5 ASTM D1209 Color, APHA 5 ASTM D1078 Distillation, °C. IBP 187.1 DP 188.6 USP 231 Heavy metals as Pb, ppm <5 ASTM E394 Iron,ppm 0.25 ASTM E202 Water, wt. % 0.0181 ASTM D2849 Suspended matterSubstantially free of suspended matter ASTM D4052 Specific gravity20/20° C. 1.0375 ASTM D1218 Refractive index, 25° C. 1.4314

Propylene glycols which satisfy the test properties above arecommercially available from a variety of commercial suppliers. It isunderstood that other propylene glycols may serve as the clayinhibitor/stabilizer component of the drilling fluid system.

Method of Blending the Components of the Multi-Component Additive

While various methods of blending the three primary components of themulti-component additive of the present invention may be suitable,empirical uses have resulted in one presently preferred method as setout below. It is important that the three components are blended so asto achieve an even distribution of the components in the desiredconcentrations in the final product.

The components are blended in batches of approximately 4200 gallons (or100 bbl in typical oilfield measurements). Blending is carried out in astainless steel blending tank, as is known in the art for mixing organicmaterials in a liquid form. The components are introduced to the tankthrough a hopper, and circulated through an eductor type shearing unitpowered by a centrifugal pump. Shearing provides improved mechanicalblending of the components such that the resulting product is evenlydistributed in the desired ratios as set out herein. The centrifugalpump is sized according to the suction and discharge lines of the mixingunit and the requirements of the shearing device. Blending and shearingof the mixture typically requires 30 to 60 minutes, and results in aslight exothermic reaction due to the shear type and time. The resultingadditive is then transferred to appropriate packaging (from 55 galloncontainers up to 25 barrel bulk volume tanks) for delivery, for exampleto a wellsite. Other blending procedures that achieve a uniform mixtureof the three components may be suitable.

Preferred Ratios of Components of the Pre-Blended Additive

Empirical testing has resulted in desired ratios of the three primarycomponents of the additive, one to the other. Expressed in terms ofvolumetric fractions of the pre-blended additive, one presentlypreferred embodiment comprises 4 parts by volume of the rate ofpenetration enhancer 2 parts by volume of the lubricant; and 2 parts byvolume of the clay inhibitor. By way of example, then, a volume of 8barrels of the pre-blended additive would comprise 4 barrels of the rateof penetration enhancer, 2 barrels of the lubricant; and 2 barrels ofthe clay inhibitor. However, it is understood that different wellboreapplications could result in variations of the volumetric fractions. Forexample, a very high angle wellbore may dictate a higher relativefraction of lubricant. Depending upon the specific applications, theadditive may comprise volumetric ratios of the different components asfollows:

Rate of penetration enhancer 4 parts to 10 parts Lubricant 2 parts to 6parts Clay inhibitor 2 parts to 6 parts

It is understood that the ranges set forth herein are by way of exampleonly, and the invention encompasses blends with ratios greater than andless than those specifically set out above.

The pre-blended aspect of the additive confers significant and noveladvantages in its use. Once a desired specific ratio is blended, thenadditions of the additive with that ratio to a drilling fluid system arevery much simplified, and the pre-blending eases maintenance of thedesired volumetric concentrations in the system for uniform dispersionthroughout the system. In addition, in order to maintain the preferredvolumetric fraction of the additive within the overall system (asaddressed below), particularly in the case of unusual wellbore anddrilling conditions (lost circulation, volume increases due to holewashout, etc.), the pre-blended additive permits quick addition to theoverall system, as opposed to adding each component singly.

Preferred Volumetric Fractions (Compositions) of the Drilling Fluid

The drilling fluid system may comprise a range of acceptable anddesirable volumetric fractions of the various components, as a fractionof the total drilling fluid system volume. Field testing has shown thatthe following volumetric fractions of the three components identifiedabove, result in the desired favorable characteristics:

Low end of range, High end of range, volumetric % of total volumetric %of total Component system volume system volume Rate of penetration 4 10enhancer Lubricant 2 6 Clay inhibitor 2 6 Totals 8 22

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention comprisesdrilling fluid systems having volumetric fractions above and below theexemplary ranges set forth above. Factors which are considered in orderto determine the appropriate volumetric fractions of the variouscomponents, for a given system, include the geometry of the wellbore;the depth of the well; downhole temperatures; and characteristics of theformations being drilled, including but not limited to the nature of theclays and other components of the formations. It is to be furtherunderstood that the drilling fluid system is amenable to use with bothhigh pH and low pH systems, and further that the invention encompassesboth “fresh water” and “salt water” based drilling fluid systems.

One composition of the drilling fluid of the present invention comprisesthe water (aqueous) phase of the fluid having a chloride concentrationof between 500 mg/l and 5000 mg/l expressed as sodium chloride salinity.This level of salinity is considered a “fresh water” formulation with aweight percent of sodium chloride less than 1%, and the resultantsalinity is native state. The salinity achieves this concentration fromwaters provided at the origin of mixing, such as a shorebase liquid mudplant or from the wellsite during drilling operations. The salinity mayincrease to the higher concentration due to leaching of waters fromdownhole formations. This increase is normal and efforts to alter thissalinity are usually not required.

A second composition of the drilling fluid of the present inventioncomprises the water phase of the fluid having a chloride concentrationof near saturation to saturation such that the chloride concentration isbetween 150,000 mg/l and 189,000 mg/l expressed as sodium chloridesalinity. This level of salinity is considered a “saturated salt”formulation with a weight percent of sodium chloride between 22% and26%. This concentration is maintained with regular additions of drysodium chloride to the circulating drilling fluid. This salinity ismaintained for the purpose of drilling “sub-salt” formations indeepwater environments, for example in the Gulf of Mexico, andpreventing these formations from eroding during drilling. It isunderstood that the multi-component additive of the present invention iscompatible with both fresh water and saturated salt water drillingfluids.

Method of Using the Drilling Fluid System

The method of the present invention comprises mixing a drilling fluidsystem, comprising a water based drilling fluid, and further comprisingthe rate of penetration, lubricant, and clay inhibition components inaccordance with the volumetric ranges set forth above; and pumping thedrilling fluid from tanks on the rig, down the drillstring and returningthe drilling fluid up the drillstring/borehole and drillstring/casingannulus to the tanks, for processing and re-pumping in the cycle wellknown to those having skill in the relevant art area. In a preferredembodiment, the components of the drilling fluid are mixed in a mixfacility away from the drilling rig (e.g., at a shorebase facility, fromwhich offshore based drilling rigs are serviced), and whole or “liquidmud” is brought to the rig in tanks. It is possible, however, to composethe drilling fluid of the present invention by mixing the components onthe rig, and the scope of the invention encompasses the resultingdrilling fluid regardless of how or where the fluid is mixed.

It is to be further noted that the drilling fluid system of the presentinvention may be formed by adding the components disclosed herein,singly, to the system; or in a preferred embodiment, the threecomponents are blended together in desired ratios to form amulti-function and purpose additive, and that pre-blended additiveincorporated with the overall drilling fluid system. Which of the twomixing approaches to use is dependent upon various parameters related tothe actual well conditions.

Case Histories Illustrating Use of Presently Preferred Embodiments ofthe Invention

The following are several case histories (wells which have been drilled)which have borne up the utility of the present invention, which hasyielded unexpected and favorable results, and attendant significant timeand cost savings.

Case History No. 1

The subject well was an offset well to one drilled with a diesel basemud, where approximately 4,000 barrels of mud were lost and plannedtotal depth of the well was never reached. The well history on thesubject well was as follows:

-   -   Wellbore displaced to a 9.5 pound per gallon (“ppg”) fresh water        low pH mud system, comprising the multi-component additive of        the present invention at approximately 6% by volume.        Displacement was carried out after setting 13⅜″ casing at 4,450′        measured depth, with a wellbore inclination of 26 degrees.    -   A 12¼″ open hole was then drilled to 9,601′ measured depth while        slightly increasing mud density to 10.0 ppg. Drilling continued        to 10,026′ measured depth, and mud density was increased to 11.0        ppg.    -   Hole angle was then increased to 52 degrees, and hole direction        (azimuth) was changed by 35 degrees. Mud weight was increased to        12.8 ppg. Hole angle, direction, and mud weight was maintained        to the 9⅞″ casing point at 12,243′ measured depth, where this        casing string was successfully run.    -   Mud density was increased to 14.0 ppg after drilling out of the        9⅞″ casing. The well was drilled to a total depth of 13,734′        measured depth, and mud weight was increased to 15.5 ppg.    -   No lost circulation was experienced. The open hole intervals in        which the additive was used required a total of 19 drilling        days. Concentration of the additive was maintained at 6% by        volume.

Case History No. 2

-   -   Wellbore was displaced with an 11.5 ppg low pH fresh water        system comprising about 6% by volume of the additive of the        present invention. The displacement was done after setting 9⅝″        casing at 4,145′ MD, with wellbore angle of 72 degrees.    -   An 8½″ open hole was drilled to 9,833′ measured depth while        increasing mud weight to 13.8 ppg and while maintaining hole        angle. Additive concentration was maintained at approximately 6%        by volume, and the hole section required 10 days drilling time.

Case History No. 3

-   -   This well has a saturated salt drilling fluid system, comprising        the additive of the present invention. Mud weight is 14.0 ppg,        and additive concentrations have been maintained between 8% and        11% by volume for optimum rate of penetration enhancement,        lubrication, and inhibition properties. Displacement to the        drilling fluid of the present invention was done after setting        surface case at 6,200′ measured depth.

It should be appreciated that a drilling fluid system comprising thevarious components set forth in the principles and teachings of thisinventive disclosure constitutes an advancement in the art of drillingfluid systems and their use. While the above description containscertain specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on thescope of the invention, but rather only as exemplifications of preferredembodiments thereof. Accordingly, the various elements of the inventionshould be understood as including alternative components and methods oftheir use, which those skilled in the relevant art would recognize asequivalent.

Although the preceding description sets forth many specificities, it isto be understood that same are offered for the purposes of setting forthsome of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and not byway of limitation. Various changes can be made to the components of theinvention without departing from the scope thereof. For example, theratios of the three primary components of the additive one to the othermay be varied; the overall volumetric fraction of the additive (orcomponents thereof) within the total fluid system can be varied;different particular compositions of the individual components arepossible, etc.

Therefore, the scope of the invention is not to be measured by theexamples set forth herein, but by the scope of the appended claims andthe legal equivalents thereof.

1. A water based drilling fluid comprising: a) water as a continuousphase; b) a rate of penetration enhancing component comprising asynthetic, non-toxic ester-based oil; c) a lubrication enhancingcomponent comprising: (i) a chlorinated component of chlorinated normalparaffins having 9 to 20 carbon atoms, chlorinated esters of fattyacids, chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins or mixtures thereof; and(ii) a sulfurized component of sulfurized fatty acid, sulfurized estersof fatty acids, sulfurized polymerized fatty acids, sulfurized olefins,or mixtures thereof, said chlorinated and sulfurized components beingcombined in proportions to produce a composition containing about 15 to30 weight percent chlorine and about 2 to 10 weight percent sulfur; andd) a clay inhibition component comprising a polypropylene glycol,wherein said drilling fluid comprises between about 4% and 10% by volumeof rate of penetration enhancing component, 2% and 6% by volume oflubrication enhancing component, and 2% and 6% by volume of clayinhibition component.
 2. The water based drilling fluid of claim 1,wherein said drilling fluid comprises about 4% by volume of rate ofpenetration enhancing component, 2% by volume of lubrication enhancingcomponent, and 2% by volume of clay inhibition component.
 3. The waterbased drilling fluid of claim 1, wherein said rate of penetrationenhancing component further comprises one or more surfactants.
 4. Thewater based drilling fluid of claim 1, wherein said rate of penetrationenhancing component comprises AQUA-SPOT-S™.
 5. The water based drillingfluid system of claim 1, wherein said system is a fresh water basedsystem.
 6. The water based drilling fluid system of claim 1, whereinsaid system is a saturated salt system.
 7. A method of drilling anearthen borehole with an aqueous drilling fluid, comprising the stepsof: a) mixing an aqueous drilling fluid comprising: i) water as thecontinuous phase; ii) a rate of penetration enhancing componentcomprising a synthetic, non-toxic ester-based oil; iii) a lubricationenhancing component comprising: a chlorinated component of chlorinatednormal paraffins having 9 to 20 carbon atoms, chlorinated esters offatty acids, chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins or mixtures thereof;and a sulfurized component of sulfurized fatty acid, sulfurized estersof fatty acids, sulfurized polymerized fatty acids, sulfurized olefins,or mixtures thereof, said chlorinated and sulfurized components beingcombined in proportions to produce a composition containing about 15 to30 weight percent chlorine and about 2 to 10 weight percent sulfur; andiv) a clay inhibition component comprising a polypropylene glycol,wherein said drilling fluid comprises between 4% and 10% by volume ofrate of penetration enhancing component, 2% and 6% by volume oflubrication enhancing component, and 2% and 6% by volume of clayinhibition component. b) pumping said drilling fluid downhole through adrill string, and returning said drilling fluid to the surface throughan annulus between said drill string and the walls of said borehole,thereby enhancing the rate of penetration of drilling through the earth,lubricating said drill string, and preserving the dimensions of saidborehole through inhibition of clays surrounding same.
 8. A drillingfluid additive for incorporation into a drilling fluid system,comprising: a) a rate of penetration enhancing component comprising asynthetic, non-toxic ester-based oil; b) a lubrication enhancingcomponent comprising: (i) a chlorinated component of chlorinated normalparaffins having 9 to 20 carbon atoms, chlorinated esters of fattyacids, chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins or mixtures thereof; and(ii) a sulfurized component of sulfurized fatty acid, sulfurized estersof fatty acids, sulfurized polymerized fatty acids, sulfurized olefins,or mixtures thereof, said chlorinated and sulfurized components beingcombined in proportions to produce a composition containing about 15 to30 weight percent chlorine and about 2 to 10 weight percent sulfur; andc) a clay inhibition component comprising a polypropylene glycol,wherein said rate of penetration enhancer, said lubricant, and said clayinhibitor are blended together in volumetric ratios ranges of 4 parts to10 parts rate of penetration enhancing component; 2 parts to 6 partslubrication enhancing component; and 2 parts to 6 parts clay inhibitioncomponent.
 9. The drilling fluid additive of claim 8, wherein said rateof penetration enhancer, said lubricant, and said clay inhibitor areblended together in volumetric ratios ranges of 4 parts rate ofpenetration enhancing component; 2 parts lubrication enhancingcomponent; and 2 parts clay inhibition component.
 10. The drilling fluidadditive of claim 8, wherein said rate of penetration enhancingcomponent further comprises one or more surfactants.
 11. The drillingfluid additive of claim 8, wherein said rate of penetration enhancingcomponent further comprises AQUA-SPOT-S™.
 12. A water based drillingfluid comprising: a) water as a continuous phase; b) a rate ofpenetration enhancing component comprising a synthetic, non-toxicolefin-based oil; c) a lubrication enhancing component comprising: (i) achlorinated component of chlorinated normal paraffins having 9 to 20carbon atoms, chlorinated esters of fatty acids, chlorinated waxes,chlorinated olefins or mixtures thereof; and (ii) a sulfurized componentof sulfurized fatty acid, sulfurized esters of fatty acids, sulfurizedpolymerized fatty acids, sulfurized olefins, or mixtures thereof, saidchlorinated and sulfurized components being combined in proportions toproduce a composition containing about 15 to 30 weight percent chlorineand about 2 to 10 weight percent sulfur; and d) a clay inhibitioncomponent comprising a polypropylene glycol, wherein said drilling fluidcomprises between about 4% and 10% by volume of rate of penetrationenhancing component, 2% and 6% by volume of lubrication enhancingcomponent, and 2% and 6% by volume of clay inhibition component.
 13. Thewater based drilling fluid of claim 12, wherein said drilling fluidcomprises about 4% by volume of rate of penetration enhancing component,2% by volume of lubrication enhancing component, and 2% by volume ofclay inhibition component.
 14. The water based drilling fluid of claim12, wherein said rate of penetration enhancing component furthercomprises one or more surfactants.
 15. The water based drilling fluid ofclaim 12, wherein said rate of penetration enhancing component comprisesAQUA-SPOT-S™.
 16. A drilling fluid additive for incorporation into adrilling fluid system, comprising: a) a rate of penetration enhancingcomponent comprising a synthetic, non-toxic olefin-based oil; b) alubrication enhancing component comprising: (i) a chlorinated componentof chlorinated normal paraffins having 9 to 20 carbon atoms, chlorinatedesters of fatty acids, chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins ormixtures thereof; and (ii) a sulfurized component of sulfurized fattyacid, sulfurized esters of fatty acids, sulfurized polymerized fattyacids, sulfurized olefins, or mixtures thereof, said chlorinated andsulfurized components being combined in proportions to produce acomposition containing about 15 to 30 weight percent chlorine and about2 to 10 weight percent sulfur; and c) a clay inhibition componentcomprising a polypropylene glycol, wherein said rate of penetrationenhancer, said lubricant, and said clay inhibitor are blended togetherin volumetric ratios ranges of 4 parts to 10 parts rate of penetrationenhancing component; 2 parts to 6 parts lubrication enhancing component;and 2 parts to 6 parts clay inhibition component.
 17. The drilling fluidadditive of claim 16, wherein said rate of penetration enhancer, saidlubricant, and said clay inhibitor are blended together in volumetricratios ranges of 4 parts rate of penetration enhancing component; 2parts lubrication enhancing component; and 2 parts clay inhibitioncomponent.
 18. The drilling fluid additive of claim 16, wherein saidrate of penetration enhancing component further comprises one or moresurfactants.